Conditions for recovery from alcohol and drug abuse – comparisons between male and female clients of different social position

European Journal of Social Work

2017

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This article investigates how treatment factors are described by different client groups and by treatment staff. The material consists of interviews with clients (n = 81) and treatment staff (n = 18). The analysis focuses on two central themes -the importance of the treatment group and of the treatment staff, along with how these descriptions relate to the concept of the therapeutic alliance. The descriptions differ in parts between the client groups and between clients and staff. Clients as well as staff highlight structural and qualitative aspects of cohesion, but general patterns of how these are expressed in the groups are hard to grasp. However, some exceptions appear; while the clients often relate recognition to own experience of substance abuse, the staff often refer to external aspects of recognition, such as gender and/or experience of parenting. The results indicate that the social preconditions of the group members can influence group cohesion. In the treatment, focus is initially on cohesion and later on making change possible. This might create a dilemma; the homogeneity that initially creates cohesion can also act as a restraint on change. This is described in the results in relation to gender homogeneous client groups in treatment.ABSTRAKT I den studie som presenteras har 81 intervjuer gjorts med klienter som beskrivit vad de själva ser som verksamt för sin egen positiva förändringsprocess i samband med att de varit i behandling för missbruksproblem. 18 intervjuer har gjorts med behandlingspersonal som beskrivit vad de bedömer vara de verksamma faktorerna inom behandling. Artikeln fokuserar på två centrala teman som framkommit i intervjuerna; dels behandlingsgruppens betydelse och dels behandlingspersonalens betydelse för en positiv förändringsprocess. Dessa teman relateras till begreppet terapeutisk allians. Både klienter och personal uppmärksammar betydelsen av gemenskap under behandlingen och lyfter fram såväl strukturella som kvalitativa aspekter på hur gemenskap skapas. Det är svårt att se generella mönster men en skillnad som framkommer i materialet är att när klienterna beskriver igenkänning som en central faktor för upplevelsen av gemenskap så betonar de ofta igenkänning relaterat till missbruket. Personalen relaterar igenkänning till att dela mer generella företeelser som till exempel att vara kvinna eller att vara förälder. Studiens resultat tyder på att en viss homogenitet i social situation bland behandlingsgruppens deltagare underlättar skapandet av en gemenskap inom behandlingsgruppen. Behandlingstidens tidigare faser fokuserar ofta på att skapa denna gemenskap och att skapa en trygg situation, senare i behandlingen övergår fokus till förändring. Genom att använda exemplet könshomogenitet belyser studiens resultat ett dilemma som är relaterat till detta; den homogenitet som tidigt under behandlingen underlättar trygghet och gemenskap kan senare under behandlingen verka begränsande för förändring.

Section: The Group As An Important Factormentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: The Staff As An Important Factormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Understanding the concept of the therapeutic alliance in group treatment for alcohol and drug problems

European Journal of Social Work

2017

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“…These four areas are used to explain the variation in different people's ability to recover from alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems (Cloud and Granfield 2008). Research has shown that RC is theoretically and practically useful due to its ability to capture both personal attributes as well as context-related preconditions that may increase or decrease an individual's chances and ability to recover from AOD-related problems (Best and Laudet 2010;Groshkova, Best, and White 2013;Morton, O'Reilly, and O'Brien 2016;Skogens and von Greiff 2016). Scientific progress concerning recovery and recovery capital has resulted in an ambition to quantify and measure an individual's level of capital.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing standards and flexibility – Preconditions for a recovery-based tool in a Swedish alcohol and drug treatment context

Härd

Nordic Social Work Research

2020

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This article presents the outcome of the first phase in the development of a recovery capital-based assessment tool in a Swedish alcohol and drug treatment context. In the process of studying the potential usefulness of such a tool, other aspects besides psychometric properties and validity have been examined. The experience and knowledge of professionals in the Swedish alcohol and drug treatment context represent the empirical data. Five group interviews have been conducted with staff from different alcohol and drug treatment facilities in Sweden. The respondents were asked to discuss an outlined idea of a recovery capital-based assessment tool. The transcribed interviews were thematically analysed and divided into three themes: the impact and need for assessment and evaluation, the need for flexibility and simplicity, and the role of the professional. The findings indicate that there is a demand for a strength-based tool in the Swedish alcohol and drug treatment context. There was a divergence between the professionalism of the social work practitioners and the use of assessment tools. To meet this divergence, the professionals emphasized aspects such as simplicity and flexibility. The findings indicate that the conditions are favourable for the implementation of a recovery capital tool in a Swedish alcohol and drug treatment context, but certain questions remain unanswered. This requires further cooperation with professionals, and in particular provides them with the possibility to reflect on its usefulness and applicability, while applying it to their daily work and procedures.

Recovery and identity: a five-year follow-up of persons treated in 12-step-related programs

Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy

2021

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Recovery is an established term used to describe positive processes of change concerning problems related to alcohol and other drugs (AOD). The present article investigates first-person experiences of recovery self-identification over time in clients who have completed 12-step programs with a positive outcome (sobriety). The data comprises qualitative interviews with 47 individuals five years after the first post-treatment interview, analyzed in a process inspired by reflexive thematic analysis. Although all the individuals had continued their recovery, their recovery paths and how they identified themselves in relation to their AOD problems had taken different directions. Thus, many of the individuals described their recovery in a broader sense which ranges from abstinence to moderation. Some individuals perceived themselves as no longer in recovery. The multitude of recovery processes described in the study underlines the need for acceptance and respect for individual identity processes. Furthermore, the importance is stressed of supporting an individual's perceptions of how their recovery process should best be outlined. The results should not be interpreted as a critique of the 12-step approach. Instead, there is a need for variety over time in the support and treatment options available for people in need of treatment for AOD problems.